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Pandemic EBT-Program Round 2 – September 16, 2020
A program for families with children who receive free or reduced-cost meals at school
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is part of a food assistance plan approved by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, and authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, for eligible students who attend kindergarten through grade 12. The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) wants families to know that there is a tight turnaround that the federal government has given DHS to allocate these benefits.
Important Information from the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that will help families receive P-EBT benefits:
How Does this Work?
There are three ways the P-EBT will be distributed.
For families that received P-EBT benefits for the school year 2019-20 and are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households, P-EBT benefits will automatically be deposited to their existing Kokua EBT card. The P-EBT benefits can be used the same way as their Kokua EBT card.
Families that had received P-EBT benefits for the school year 2019-20 and are eligible for P-EBT benefits for the school year 2020-21 will have their benefits loaded to the card they had received for their 2019-20 benefits. If a replacement card is needed (Kokua EBT or Hawaiʻi P-EBT) please call the Fidelity Information Service (FIS) customer service at 1-888-328-4292.
Families that had not received P-EBT for the 2019-20 school year will be mailed a Hawaiʻi P-EBT card.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Families new to the program that are mailed a Hawaiʻi P-EBT card will receive a card in the name of each eligible student. The SNAP and Hawaiʻi P-EBT cards can also be used in the Da Bux program.
Who is Eligible?
Do I need to apply for P-EBT?
No, households do not have to apply for P-EBT. DHS will be provided the records of eligible students. Please see the information under "Who is Eligible?" section.
How Much Will Families Receive?
Eligible families can receive up to the following amount for each child enrolled in school:
August 2020: $136
September 2020: $150
Maximum for the 2-month period of School Year 2020-21: $286/child.
The Hawaiʻi P-EBT benefits will be loaded on the existing Kokua EBT and Hawaiʻi P-EBT card accounts beginning September 29, 2020. New Hawaiʻi P-EBT account holders will have their cards mailed beginning September 29, 2020.
For Hawaiʻi P-EBT Program Inquiries: hi.pebt@dhs.hawaii.gov
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is food assistance approved by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, and authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260).
Important information from Hawaii Department of Human Services: There is no application for P-EBT benefits. Students that either either enrolled for free or reduced-price school meals at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or Students who are enrolled in a school that provides free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or another provision, are automatically eligible and enrolled for P-EBT through verification provided by the DOE.
Important Information from the Hawaiʻi Department of Education that will help families receive P-EBT benefits:
Note-Children under 6 years of age who are receiving SNAP benefits may also be eligible for P-EBT. The Department will provide further information on this population after the April issuance of P-EBT benefits for the school-aged children.
How Does this Work?
Eligible students will have their benefits issued to their own Hawaii P-EBT account that is accessible through, a Hawaii P-EBT card (white card with black lettering) or a Kokua EBT card.
For students that had received P-EBT benefits for August and September of the current 2020-21 school year, benefits continuing from October 2020 through the balance of the school year will be issued their P-EBT benefits to their existing P-EBT account and can be redeemed with their existing Hawaii P-EBT card or Kokua EBT card.
For students on SNAP that had received P-EBT benefits on their family’s SNAP Kokua EBT account and card, a Hawaii P-EBT card will be mailed so that you can access benefits continuing from October 2020 through the balance of the school year.
For newly eligible students that have not received P-EBT for the 2020-21 school year, they will be mailed a Hawaiʻi P-EBT card.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Families new to the program that are mailed a Hawaiʻi P-EBT card will receive a card in the name of each eligible student. The SNAP and Hawaiʻi P-EBT cards can also be used in the Da Bux program.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If a replacement card is needed (Kokua EBT or Hawaiʻi P-EBT) please call the Fidelity Information Service (FIS) customer service at 1- 888-328-4292.
How Much Will Students Receive?
When will benefits be issued?
The Hawaiʻi P-EBT benefits will be loaded to the Hawaiʻi P-EBT accounts beginning April 20, 2021. This first issuance will cover the retroactive increase payments for August and September, and for the benefit months of October – December. Beginning April 27, 2021 payments for the benefit months of January – March will be loaded.
Payments for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year will be issued monthly, and will follow this schedule:
Benefit MonthNote – New Hawaii P-EBT cards will begin being mailed out starting April 1, 2021 directly from our mainland vendor, and will be shipped through USPS. Cards may require 3 weeks for delivery.
Where can I check on my child’s P-EBT benefit status?
Go to humanservices.hawaii.gov and click on to the P-EBT status banner.
Where can I call if I have more questions (such as where can I report achange of address)?
You can call the P-EBT call center at 1-888-975-PEBT(7328) , or email at hi.pebt@dhs.hawaii.gov
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BENEFIT, EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
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